Front restraint device for shipping bins

Abstract

This invention relates to a front restraint device for article shipping bins. The articles, e.g., automotive backlites are positioned on an edge and tilted to rest on an adjustable back support for packing stability. The articles are secured in the bin by a pneumatic front restraint device or a mechanical front restraint device incorporating features of the invention and mounted at the ingress end of the bin. The pneumatic front restraint device includes an inflatable member which when inflated moves a rigid pad into engagement with the articles. The mechanical front restraint device includes a rigid pad which is moved into engagement with the articles and biased toward the articles. The front restraint devices act on the articles to (1) secure the articles in the bin as a unitized pack; (2) limit oscillatory and lateral motions of the articles; and (3) dampen oscillatory and lateral forces acting on the articles during transit.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a method of containing sheets in a shipping rack of the type having a back wall secured to a base wherein the method includes the step of loading the sheets on the base tilted toward the back wall, the improvement comprising: providing a rigid member having a threaded shaft operatively connected to biasing means;   securing the rigid member on the rack spaced from outermost loaded sheet;   rotating the shaft to move the shaft into engagement with the outermost sheet; while   compressing the biasing means by way of the shaft as the shaft is rotated.   
     
     
       2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sheets are automotive backlites. 
     
     
       3. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the steps of: providing a rigid member for supporting the sheets tilted toward the back wall;   mounting one end of a first strut to the back wall and the other end of the first strut to the rigid member;   mounting one end of a second strut to the back wall and the other end of the second strut to the rigid member such that the configuration formed by the rigid member and the first and second struts is a frustrum of a triangle.   
     
     
       4. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including: providing a carriage with a plate;   moving the carriage in a first direction to move the plate into engagement with the sheets;   dampening the forces applied to the plate to move the plate and carriage in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and   urging the carriage in the first direction to maintain the plate in contact with the sheets.